Virtual Production

The Virtual Production Fundamentals Certificate of Achievement,offered as a part of the Regional Virtual Production Academy (RPVA) collaborative, prepares students for entry-level careers in virtual production.Students will apply the skills from film production, computer graphics,digital imaging, visual effects and game engines to the virtual production process. Students may select courses from the participating colleges to complete the certificate.

Unduplicated Headcount	Projected Annual FTES	Annual Completers
Year 1 = 250	Year 1 = 74.62	Year 1 = 79
Year 2 = 250	Year 2 = 74.62	Year 2 = 79

In order to estimate the number of positively impacted students by this regional collaborative program, the planning team looked at TOP code enrollment numbers for 2019-2020 (the most recently available enrollment numbers) from CCCCO Launchboard for the following categories:

1030Graphic Art & Design

1012Applied Photography

0601Media & communications

0604Radio & Television

0610Mass Communications

0612Film Studies

0614Digital Media

0699Other Media and Communications

Our team is estimating that 15% of enrolled students will be positively impacted by the project in the sense that they will be made aware of the career opportunities,have increased access to courses through our collaborative approach, and take action to move in the direction of a career virtual production. 

Total enrollment in the TOP categories mentioned above in 2019-2020 for the Bay Region was 24,805. Our project will aim to impact 15% of the students in these categories, at a minimum. This gives us a projected impact on 3,720 students.

Additionally,we are estimating an increase of 250 new enrollments created through this project's marketing and outreach efforts - which will highlight the demand and career opportunities in virtual production.

In total, this project is estimated to positively impact 3,970 students in the first year. Of these 3,970 impacted students, we anticipate 2% will complete a certificate in Virtual Production, which equates to 79 annual completers.

• Upon completion of the program, students will be able to analyze,describe, and apply the fundamental technology requirements of the virtual production workflow
• Upon completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate proficiency with game engines, 3D computer graphics, visual effects, and film production
• Upon completion of the program, students will be able to demonstrate the ability to work on a production team and take responsibility for one's role
• Upon completion of the program, students will be able to create a project using the virtual production process
  
  

This Regional Certificate will be offered by Academy member colleges which currently includes Berkeley City College, Diablo Valley College,Laney College, Mission College, Ohlone College, and Santa Rosa Community Colleges. As is the nature of collaborative programs, some courses are offered at Diablo Valley College and some at the other member colleges.

This is a new program that is unlike our current certificates and degrees but that draws on combining our existing courses in film production, digital media and game design. It is our first regional collaborative program, which represents anew development for our curriculum and offers possibilities to build new collaborative program. This certificate is the first certificate in a pathway that will allow students to take courses throughout the Bay Area region. By having collaborative certificates, we will maximize the resources of Bay Area colleges - including allowing students throughout the region to access courses in the modality and at the level that meets their needs.

The proposed certificate of achievement meets the mission of DVC by adding a new opportunity for career education for students who wish to go into the Virtual Production Industry. This fits with the mission of California Community Colleges by contributing to continuous work force improvement. By offering this as a regional collaboration we will increase our district’s ability to serve students. Digital media programs attract a diverse student demographic, especially in the creative game design, animation, XR/VR, and video programs, at community colleges and AME programs in high schools. However, students interested in digital media careers encounter two barriers;  limited entry level jobs in these specific fields and lack of awareness of how combining skills prepares them for new, emerging roles. The RVPA addresses those challenges by creating a certificate program that teaches the suite of skills employers expect, built with courses skill-builders already in the industry are taking to keep up with change.

Below is specific for Diablo Valley College.  Please review attachment for Program Requirements and sequencing for courses offered by Academy member colleges.

Course	Title	Units	Year/Semester (Y1 or S1)
Required courses:
ARTDM-105	Intro to Digital Imaging	3	S1
ARTDM-160	3D Modeling and Animation I	3	S1
ARTDM-180	Game Design I	3	S2
ARTDM-141	Visual Effects	3	S2
ARTDM-192	Intro to Virtual Production	3	S2
FTVE-160	Introduction to Film Production	3	S1
plus at least 3 units from:
WRKX-180	Internship in Occupational Work Experience Education	3	S2
OR
ARTDM-165	Drawing for Digital Animation	3	S2
ARTDM-161	3D Modeling and Animation II	3	S2
FTVE-165	Digital Editing	3	S2
ARTDM-140	Motion Graphics	3	S2
Total minimum required units		21

The Regional Virtual Production Academy (RVPA) is a collaborative program currently between 6 Bay Area Community Colleges (Diablo Valley College, Berkeley City College, Laney College, Mission College, Ohlone College, and Santa Rosa Junior College) that will prepare students for jobs in virtual production. The collaborative will provide greater access to students across the Bay Area region and will strengthen each college’s ability to respond to industry needs by increasing completions and prompting equitable access by giving timely access to ALL students . The RVPA will go beyond the usual program roles to be a partnership that engages with employers and industry to identify WBL opportunities benefiting participating programs, K-14 students, and community partners across the region. And based upon what we’ve learned while developing this proposal, the benefits are mutual. Employers are eager to tap into a regional talent pipeline and look forward to working with a regional program to reach stakeholders rather than working with individual colleges/programs, which has led to the creation of a robust regional advisory committee. The RVPA uses a model curriculum based upon existing, approved courses to offer a suite of stackable certificates. The Certificate of Achievement Virtual Production Fundamentals is the foundational credential that all students will complete and will provide students with a foundation in the virtual production process including: 3D animation, digital imaging, film production, game design and development, visual effects, and the virtual production process. What needs motivate this project? Bay Area community colleges are recognizing that virtual production is fast becoming an integral part of film, video, and broadcast pipelines, unlocking new doors for our students studying game design, animation, XR/VR, video, IT, and project integration and management. Digital media career education programs have successful linkages with Bay Area K12 AME academies and curriculum, especially in schools with diverse student populations. The RVPA cannot become reality without collaboration and coordination across colleges and programs because no single college can prepare students to meet the growing industry demand. The Academy will help shorten the path to completion by providing students the flexibility to complete required coursework when and wherever it’s offered. This approach has a two-fold benefit. Students have greater access, which supports retention, completion, and equity. Colleges benefit from increased enrollments and decreased class cancellations due to not meeting minimum enrollment. As an outcome, students obtain their desired credential in less time, enabling a quick start on a high-wage, high-growth career path in virtual production. There are over 120 major virtual production studio facilities across the globe, and that number is quickly increasing. Like all new technology advancement, the demand for qualified talent is high, while the availability of skilled people is low. This situation is compounded by roles that are constantly being refined and redefined. Except for a camera operator and the actors, nearly every other role in virtual production can be performed remotely, either by someone in another room, across the street, or from anywhere in the world. However, virtual production requires a combination of skills and the studio environments that can be costly. A collaborative program addresses the challenges of limited availability of all of the required curriculum or having the studio environment needed for the capstone courses. The requirement that all courses are available online increases student access to courses with the potential to decrease time to program completion.

This Regional Certificate will be offered by Academy member colleges which currently includes Berkeley City College, Diablo Valley College, Laney College, Mission College, Ohlone College, and Santa Rosa Community Colleges. As is the nature of collaborative programs, some courses are offered at Diablo Valley College and some at the other member colleges.